The ordinance providing stringent punishment, including death penalty, for raping girls below 12 years, was today hailed by the BJP as "historic", even as the opposition parties asked why it took so long for the government to bring the measure.
The BJP and its chief Amit Shah said the step confirms the Narendra Modi government's commitment to ensuring safety of women.
He said, "I thank and congratulate PM Narendra Modi as well as the Cabinet for the historic ordinance on women's safety. I welcome the provision of death penalty for rape of any girl below 12 years and increasing punishment from 10 to 20 years if a girl below 16 years is violated."
Shah tweeted, "The Cabinet has also made provisions for speedy investigation and trial of rape cases. This decision will act as a tough deterrent for such crimes and reflects the Modi government's strong commitment towards the safety and wellbeing of women."
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said on Twitter, "Death for Child rapists is a welcome decision by PM @narendramodi ji. This ordinance will be a strong deterrence to potential offenders of this heinous crime against children. @BJP4India Govt. is committed to ensure protection and justice to each and every daughter of India."
She said, "Today is the day when we must discuss all the positive initiatives brought by this government to empower women and decrease the drudgery in their lives."
Karat said, "In principle, my party, the CPI (M), is against death penalty. The actual problem is not that there is no death penalty for child rape. The actual issue here is those in government are defending the rapists."
In Hyderabad, where the party congress is being held, she said, "This is to divert the attention from the grievous nature of the assault on basic judicial processes, where even the lawyers try to stop the police from filing charge sheet. The government is trying to bring this (ordinance) in. We want certainty of punishment."
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